Target having means for opening the reeds of a switch



March 4, 1969 5 oss ET AL 3,430,959

TARGET HAVING MEANS FOR OPENING THE REEDS OF A SWITCH Filed Nov. 1, 1966 United States Patent Olfice 3,430,959 Patented Mar. 4, 1969 3,430,959 TARGET HAVING MEANS FOR OPENING THE REEDS OF A SWITCH Henry S. Ross and Marcine P. Wolverton, both of 10136 Pacific, Franklin Park, Ill. 60131 Filed Nov. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 591,194 US. Cl. 273-127 2 Claims Int. Cl. A63b 71/00, 63/00 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pivotally supported magnet-carrying target moved by contact of a projectile over and above a playing field which houses a magnetically controlled switch, the components of which move in response to the presence or absence of the magnetic influence of the target magnet as the same is pivoted over the playing field by the projectile.

Summary of the invention Our invention is especially adapted for use in amusement game apparatuses, such, for example, as a baseball game wherein a magnetically controlled reed switch is employed for controlling a counting or scoring circuit.

One of the several objects of the invention is to provide a target simulating a player or character of the game with which the target is used, to open the reeds of a switch under the influence of a magnetic field of a magnet carried by and movable with the target.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the same;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a modified form of construction;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of parts embodied in the invention shown in exploded relation with respect to each other.

We contemplate accomplishing the various objects of the invention by the form of construction shown in the accompanying drawings. Referring particularly to FIG. 1, the form there shown comprises a pair of L-shaped mounting brackets and 11 each having a base 12 which is secured to the playing board 13 of the game apparatus and over which board a projectile P in the form of a ball is adapted to be projected.

Each of the brackets 10 and 11, in addition to the base 12, includes upwardly extending arms 14 arranged in parallel spaced relation with respect to each other. Journalled in the outer end portion of the arms 14 as at 15 is an elongated rod 16. The rod 16 carries a target 17 which in the present instance is in the form of a plate having mounted or printed thereon a character 18, which, in the present instance, is an umpire of the baseball game with which the target is used. The target 17 may pivot relative to the rod 16 or, if desired, the rod 16 may be fixed to the target and the rod may be pivoted about its journal connection as at 15.

The target 17 at its lower edge portion in its preferred form of construction is provided with a transverse groove 19 in which is fixedly mounted in any suitable manner an elongated magnet 20.

Beneath the playing board 13 are secured as at 21 a pair of U-shaped clips 22 which support a switch 23 having a pair of reeds 24. The reeds 24 are preferably formed of spring-tempered ferromagnetic material and, by reason of their resiliency, have the ability to open when not under the influence of a magnetic field.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the reed switch is located directly beneath the magnet 20 carried by the target 17.

In the form shown in FIG. 1, the arms 25 of the character 18 are so disposed that they limit the anticlockwise pivotal movement of the target by engaging the forward edges of the arms 14 of the brackets 10 and 11.

In this form of construction, each time that a projectile, preferably in the form of a ball, engages the lower portion of the target 17, the target will be caused to pivot in an anticlockwise direction. As the target pivots, the magnet is moved from influencing relation with respect to the reeds 24 of the switch, with the consequence that these reeds, due to their resiliency, will open and therefore cause a circuit (not shown) to be energized to register that a hit has been made. This circuit does not constitute any part of our present invention and is therefore not illustrated.

As long as the target 17 is in a vertical position such as shown in FIG. 1, the magnetic field created by the magnet 20 will influence the reeds of the switch and maintain the same in a closed or contacting relation with respect to each other.

In this manner, a simple arrangement has been provided for effectively influencing the opening and closing of a switch which is preferably arranged in a hit registering or scoring circuit of a game with which the target is associated.

The target 17 is of such construction that it is at all times properly balanced so as to maintain the vertical position shown in FIG. 1.

The form shown in FIG. 3 is substantially identical to that shown in FIG. 1, with the exception that in FIG. 3 we employ but a single bracket 10 including a base 12' and an upstanding arm 14', the base 12' being connected by means of screws to the playing board 13. In this form the character 18 has one arm angled and the other arm extending outwardly from the shoulder, the angled arm 25 serving the same function as the arms 25, i.e., to limit the anticlockwise rotation of the target. The construction of the form shown in FIG. 3 is otherwise the same as that shown in FIG. 1.

From the foregoing description it will be manifest that I have provided a unique and simple arrangement for controlling the switch of a hit registering or scoring circuit to indicate target hits by a projectile.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying our invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. We therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A target for a game apparatus in which there is a playing board over which a projectile is adapted to move into striking contact with the target, comprising (a) a target element mounting bracket carried by the playing board,

(b) a target element pivotally supported by said bracket in a substantially vertical position and adapted to be pivoted with respect thereto when struck by the projectile,

(c) an elongated magnetic element mounted in a transversely extending groove formed in the lower edge portion of said target element in close proximity to the surface of the playing board,

(d) a switch carried by and beneath the playing board in close proximity with respect to the magnetic element carried by said target element when said tar get element is in its vertical position, 2 1 18 (e) said switch comprising a pair of overlapping spring 6 3,039,771

reeds formed of ferromagnetic material and held in 3,082,002

contact with each other under the magnetic influence of said magnetic element, said reeds being out of com 979 906 tact with each other when said target element is pivoted by the projectile to move the magnetic element from magnetic influence upon said reeds.

2. A target element for a game apparatus as defined by claim 1, characterized by the provision of portions on said target element cooperating with said mounting bracket to limit pivotal movement of said target element under the influence of the projectile.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1940 Comoletti 273--102.2 X 6/1962 Bablouzian et a1. 273-54X 3/1963 Goldfarb 273-1022 FOREIGN PATENTS 1/1965 Great Britain.

10 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

THOMAS ZACK, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

